It's Complicated
Submitted by Jason DuBose on Tue, 2017-07-11 00:00
The more I learn more about the watershed, the more I feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the systems involved. From rivers to reservoirs, to canals to water rights to the water table to geothermal and so on... Between yesterday and today I learned just enough to realize how much I don't know. We talked to the manager of Boise's city geothermal water district and learned that they are governed by the stakeholders needs first and foremost. After talking to the Rick Martin about the diversion damn on the Boise River, it became clear that water rights holders were also the driving factor in water management for all the decicisions made concerning the irrigation districts in the lower basin. Our water is being managed by countless entities nearly as soon as it hits the ground, with decisions being made in concert on an hour by hour basis to deliver the water to us as stakeholders. What factors do you think are being considered when decisions are made by water management agencies and what do you think the most important factors should be when it comes to water delivery and management?
Comments
Equally overwhelmed
Hello Jason,
I want to start by saying that I appreciate your feeling of being overwhelmed by the complexity of the management of a watershed. As I have been digging into the different stakeholders involved in the watershed, I have found the magnitude of groups who rely on the watershed for such a variety of reasons to be dizzying!
You posed the question about what factors do we think are being considered when decisions are being made and what factors do we think should be given then greatest priority. I will answer the second half of the question first as I feel it is the easiest: I feel that the number one factor that should be considered is doing the least amount (preferable no) harm to the natural resources and ecosystems. After that, I think it gets hairy. Which stakeholder has the greatest need and achieves the greatest good through the resource use? (Who determines needs verses wants and what is the greatest good?)
As far as what is actually happening, I like to think that minimizing the environmental impact is the first factor considered. After that, I think that the mighty dollar drives many of the decisions. When stakeholders can show the economic boom their use will fuel, I think it goes a long way to strengthening their claim in the eyes of the decision makers. I also think that often it is the stakeholder with the greatest public outreach that receives the highest consideration. If a large section of the community is in support of something, then it is given more weight. If you (the stakeholder) can successfully market your need, you increase the chances you'll get what you ask for.
This leads me to the importance of the work being done by MILES to present facts through research based studies that can truly show an clear an unbiased picture of what is needed by the various stakeholders and how it can be successfully managed to keep the majority happy the majority of the time.
I hope I don't sound too cynical. I truly would like to believe that those who are making the hour by hour decisions are doing it with a clear understanding of each stakeholders needs and with the greatest good in mind.
"I feel it is the easiest: I
"I feel it is the easiest: I feel that the number one factor that should be considered is doing the least amount (preferable no) harm to the natural resources and ecosystems" I 100% agree with your sentiment but unfortunately, with all the water managers we talked with, their first priority was to their water rights stake holders with safety being a close second. Our ecological systems are a consideration but usually only when the court systems become involved or fall-out from poor management practices become untenable.
Not suprised
It is as I expected. Often with the environment, no one is worried until it becomes a problem that can no longer be ignored. I have always been a believer in "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Hopefully through education of not just our students but our communities as well, we can help to ensure that the impact on the ecological systems is a top concern for when looking a management practices.